hydrometeorological

Hydrometeorology is the scientific discipline that studies the exchange of water between the atmosphere and the land surface and the processes that drive the hydrological cycle. It focuses on how atmospheric conditions, including precipitation, evaporation, and weather systems, influence surface water, groundwater, and soil moisture, and how these water resources in turn affect weather and climate through feedbacks. The field integrates meteorology, hydrology, climatology, and environmental science to understand water in the context of weather, climate variability, and human needs.

Key processes in hydrometeorology include rainfall generation and distribution, rainfall-runoff transformation, infiltration, evapotranspiration, soil moisture dynamics, river discharge, lake levels, and groundwater recharge. Hydrometeorologists analyze how extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall, droughts, and intense storms interact with land surfaces and human infrastructure. Data sources comprise rain gauges, weather radar, weather stations, satellites, stream gauges, and groundwater monitoring networks, while models range from numerical weather prediction to distributed hydrological models and rainfall-runoff flood forecasting systems. Data assimilation and ensemble forecasting techniques are used to improve predictions and quantify uncertainty.

Applications of hydrometeorology encompass flood forecasting and warning, drought monitoring and management, water resources planning and reservoir operation, urban drainage design, irrigation scheduling, and climate resilience assessments. The discipline supports decision making under uncertainty for governments, industry, and communities, particularly in the context of climate variability and change. International cooperation, standards, and data sharing are coordinated by organizations such as the World Meteorological Organization and national meteorological and hydrological services.